Lobby briefings: July 1 to July 4

Twice a day when Parliament is sitting, the Prime Minister’s Official
Spokesman takes questions from journalists at Lobby briefings. Telegraph
Politics brings you the highlights of those briefings.

Photo: Getty

By Telegraph Politics

4:40PM BST 04 Jul 2013

Thursday July 4, 2013

Evening briefing

Europe

The PMOS said the Prime Minister was focused on the policy he set out, which was reforms to Britain’s relationship with the European Union. As part of that the Government is undertaking the balance of competences review. His views around having a referendum within two years of the next election were “unchanged”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the government “always” condemned military coups.

However, he observed that the ousting of President Morsi had been “a popular intervention”.

The PM’s spokesman said it was important to develop democratic institutions that could command the confidence and support of the Egyptian people.

He insisted that the focus now should be on ensuring that Egypt “a strong, stable, and democratic” government.

Asked whether David Cameron would prefer “strong”, “stable” or “democratic”, the spokesman said that democracy was the best way to make a country strong and stable.

STATE SCHOOLS

Downing Street refused to comment on a report that the PM was pushing for plans to allow state schools to charge foreign pupils fees. However, he did appear to confirm the existence of the memo written by the PM’s private secretary, which set out the plan.

“I think you are referring to a leaked letter and I’m not going to comment on leaks,” the spokesman said.

He said he was “not aware of” any leak inquiry having been launched into how the document became public.

Asked whether Mr Cameron was relaxed about the plan entering the public domain, the spokesman said: “You can draw your own conclusions from the fact that I am not going to comment.”

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) was asked about claims by Diane Abbott, the shadow health secretary, that plans to charge immigrants to use the NHS were “xenophobic” and would “stigmatise" foreigners.

He said: “He would emphatically reject that. This is about fairness, we have a national health service not an international health service. There will be exemptions on public health grounds.”

Asked whether he thought Mrs Abbott was turning the debate into a racial issue and if he thought her comments were inflammatory, PMOS said: “How opponents characterise it is up to them."

Asked about figures suggesting that immigrants cost the NHS £200million out of a £9billion NHS budget, PMOS said: “How opponents characterise it is up to them.” He added that the government is doing an audit to establish the real cost to the health service. He said: “It’s right that we understand the scale of it.”

Landlords and immigrants

Under reforms announced today, landlords will be expected to help vet immigrants. Asked if they were effectively becoming border officials, PMOS said: “That’s not what you're going to see when the details of the consultation are set out later.

“Landlords already check a number of documents. The consultation will set out today how we intend to support landlords. He thinks it's realistic.”

High Speed Rail

Lord Mandelson this morning described the proposed High Speed Rail line between London, the Midlands and the North as an “expensive mistake”.

PMOS said: “He [the Prime Minister] disagrees. The Prime Minister’s view is that High Speed Rail is an example of what we need to do to equip Britain in the global race. It will support tens of thousands of jobs.

“The Prime Minister thinks it is right for this country. He will be making that case and taking it forward.”

When asked about the spiralling cost of the project, PMOS said the bulk of it was contingencies. He indicated that they were unlikely to be needed. He said: “If you look at the Olympics and reforms we made into how we manage projects I think we have the tools to deliver.

Food banks

Lord Freud said yesterday that the sharp rise in the number of people using food banks is not necessarily linked to the government’s squeeze on benefits. The Prime Minister agrees with his views.

PMOS said: I believe that Lord Freud was making the point that there isn't a link between delays in payments and the use of food banks. Since 2010 delays in benefits are going down.”

Egypt

Asked about the Prime Minister’s views on Egypt, PMOS said: “We condemn all violence. The key point is the need to use political process.

“What we can be very clear about is that we are committed to a democratic Egypt. We support the right of Egyptians to make democratic decisions."

Ecuador bug

Asked about claims by the Ecuadorian government that a listening device was found in the embassy, PMOS said: “I wasn't aware but I'm fairly sure that had I been we don't comment on security issues.”

Royal Charter delayed until Autumn

Asked about whether the royal charter on press regulation would be delayed until the Autumn, PMOS said: “An alternative Royal Charter has been proposed by the industry. There is a proper process for considering that proposal, that process is ongoing.”

The PM's spokesman was asked if David Cameron has discussed recent claims about the police handling of Stephen Lawrence's case with the Home Secretary since his return from Asia.

Yes, he has, but the position remains unchanged – some sort of public inquiry remains an option: "Nothing is off the table. We'll have more shortly".

MURRAY

Will the PM send Andy Murray a good luck message? The spokesman, wary of "Curse of Cameron" headlines, paused before replying: "I'm not sure I can win with that question, but let's hope Andy Murray does."

CARNEY

Has the PM spoken to Mark Carney since he took up his post at the Bank of England. No. And there are "no planned meetings" between the two.

BORIS

Does the PM agree with Boris Johnson that politicians should not stay in their posts too long?

"Definitely a question for the Mayor," the spokesman said.

Morning Briefing

CABINET TALKS NHS, EU AND UNEMPLOYMENT

Four things were on the agenda at Cabinet today. There were updates on parliamentary business, the Work Programme, the NHS mandate, and the Prime Minister's visits to the European Council, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Did anyone around the table note any problems with the Work Programme, which has failed to find jobs for a million unemployed? The PM's spokesman said there was a "genuine discussion and agreement of clear progress being made".

TRADE MINSTER CONFLICT OF INTEREST

A question about potential conflicts of interest for Sir Ian Livingston, the new trade minister, who will have a substantial shareholding in his current company BT. The spokesman said he is "not aware the PM has spoken to his adviser" on ministerial interests and the Cabinet Office believes there wil be "no conflict of interest".

FREE SCHOOL PROFITS

Responding to reports that Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, wants free schools to be able to make profits, the spokesman said: "There's no plans for that to happen. The PM's view is that it's important to push up standards across the country. There's a programme of genuinely radical reform to bring rigour back into the curriculum and push up standards and end culture of costing schools. But with regard to profit making there are no plans to introduce that."

CHINESE LANTERNS

Should Chinese lanterns be banned after one caused a giant fire in Smethwick destroying £6 million of equipment and stock at a recyling plant? It appears not.

The spokesman said: "My understanding is that the impact of fires is very small. The PM's view is that it's important that we always ensure the right level, the proportionate response to any particular event and always look at safety matters to make sure at the top of our concerns."

BORIS FOR MAYOR AGAIN?

What about the suggestion that Boris Johnson could run for a third term as Mayor of London? It gets a thumbs-up. "The PM thinks that Boris is doing an excellent job as Mayor and long may he continue," says the spokesman.

The Prime Minister has spoke to students at Nazarbayev University (where he said he would like to think he's like Harry Potter, but the public might think he's Voldemort...). He also met President Nazarbayev and spoke at a business event for Kazakhstan and UK business.

MPs' PAY RISE

The Telegraph wanted to know whether David Cameron would personally turn down any big pay rise for MPs. The PM's official spokesman simply said: "The report from Ipsa hasn't been published yet. But the PM has certainly made his view known that the overall cost of politics should come down."

But does that mean he would turn it down? "Let's wait and see what the report actually says. The way it works is that the Government makes a submission on this and our submission said we would expect IPSA take fiscal climate into account, noting in part the approach taken by the Government to public service pay."

So if the overall cost does come down, the PM thinks it's ok to give MPs a pay rise? The spokesman said he would still expect Ipsa to take note of the current climate.

Asked what exactly "the cost of politics" includes, he said it was things like MP pay, ministerial pay, and the number of MPs, before suggesting that efficiency savings could also come under this heading.

LORDS LOOS

Does the PM think it's acceptable that the Houses of Parliament spent £100,000 refurbishing two loos in the Lords? The PM's spokesman refers the question to the House authorities.

ACCESS TO THE PM

Will David Cameron follow Nick Clegg's lead and do a monthly press conference (like he used to have)? The spokesman says journalists have had plenty of chances to ask the PM questions over the last few days.